vitamin A
Golden rice was made due to the Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD) crisis in the world (specifically in Africa), using genetically engineered production. Source: A-Level Scientist.
Golden rice is a genetically-modified variety of rice which produces beta-carotene (pro-vitamin A) in the rice grain. The presence of the carotene (an orange-yellow pigment) gives the rice its golden colour. In the body, beta-carotene can be used to produce vitamin A. It was developed to prevent diseases such as blindness which can be caused by lack of vitamin A in the diet of poor people. Each year, 250 000 to 500 000 children go blind because of vitamin A deficiency. Golden rice was created by Ingo Potrykus of the Institute of Plant Sciences at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, working with Peter Beyer of the University of Freiburg. However, some people oppose the use of genetically-modified crops, including golden rice, and it has not yet been made available for use. You may view the related links below for more information
The vitamin and mineral that is obtained from eating golden rice is vitamin C. This is the biggest benefit from eating this rice. It also contains potassium.
Golden Rice is unique because it contains beta carotene, which gives it a golden color. When people eat food containing beta carotene, it is converted to vitamin A as needed by the body.
Golden rice produces significantly more beta-carotene (a precursor of vitamin A) than other varieties of rice. The beta-carotene also gives golden rice its distinctive color.
Rice is being genetically engineered to produce vitamin A in the rice. It is called Golden Rice because it is yellow in color, and the reason for engineering it is said to be to provide more vitamin A for people who are deficient in that vitamin in countries where a lot of rice is eaten.
Typically, a specific DNA molecule is inserted into a vector DNA molecule that can carry foreign DNA, and the resulting recombinant DNA is introduced into a host organism (often the common bacterium Escherichia coli or the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae). Large numbers of genetically identical host organisms, each carrying the same specific foreign DNA molecule, can be produced, allowing the DNA or its protein product to be produced in large quantities.Cloned DNA can also be incorporated into the genomes of multicellular organisms to create a transgenic organism.Genetically modified organisms (GMOs)One example of a GMO is the development of "golden rice," designed to reduce blindness caused by vitamin A deficiency in rice-consuming areas of the world. A polished rice grain, which is the portion of the seed that provides nourishment (the endosperm) does not contain beta-carotene, the substance the human body converts into vitamin A, yet many plants with yellow/orange colored leaves or flowers produce it in abundance. To convert rice endosperm into a beta-carotene-rich food, a transgene was constructed with the genes required for beta-carotene production and inserted into rice cells. The transgene consists of a cDNA for phytoene synthase, from a daffodil flower library, plus other sequences. Rice with these extra genes show a rich "golden" color from the beta-carotene that accumulates in the rice grain. If golden rice can be bred into commercial strains and enough can be provided into the diet to reduce the incidence of vitamin A-related blindness, current agitation against GMO crops may evolve into enthusiasm for their application.
Oryza sativa. The first type of rice used to make,' Golden Rice. '
Uma Thurman won the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress In A Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television in 2003 for Hysterical Blindness.
Rice is a staple for more than half the world's population. Yet it contains very little beta carotene, a necessary protein. Most of the beta carotene in rice is in the husk, which is usually removed for consumption. Scientists have created "golden rice," high in beta carotene, which will reduce blindness
Aristotle taught his students to follow the "golden mean," which is the idea of finding a rational balance between extremes in order to achieve virtue and live a good life. He emphasized moderation, self-control, and the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of life.
"Golden rice" was a variety of custom bred-rice that contained more nutrients, especially vitamin A, than normal rice. Anything that provides better nutrition to a population which is often hungry and generally malnourished is clearly a "Good Thing".